Heel strap for swimming flippers

ABSTRACT

A heel strap for swimming flippers includes a tubular resilient band having a round cross section, which can be coupled at each end to a member supporting a rigid eyelet that can be removably attached to a pivot pin projecting laterally from the flipper.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heel strap for swimming flippers having an open shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A swimming flipper may be configured as an open shoe with a blade in its front part and an opening in its rear part, into which the diver inserts his foot. This type of flipper is typically made from rubber or a similar elastomeric material

A flipper of this type is particularly suitable for scuba diving and is provided at its rear end with a strap, which secures the diver's heel, in order to retain the foot correctly in the flipper. These straps may be of different kinds and may, for example, include a rubber belt provided at both ends with buckles, which are fixed to the sides of the flipper shoe. These buckles, into which the ends of the strap are inserted, provide for a degree of adjustment of the capacity and tension of the strap.

However, these straps have a number of drawbacks, for example, both ends of the strap must be inserted into the corresponding buckles whenever the flipper is put on and must be removed therefrom whenever the flipper is taken off. The strap can suffer from wear over time as an inevitable result of these repeated operations of insertion into the buckles and removal therefrom, and lose tension in the long term, which is detrimental to their effectiveness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a heel strap for swimming flippers, which overcomes the drawbacks of the straps in the prior art. A heel strap according to the invention can be customized and has a markedly greater effectiveness and durability than known heel straps.

This object is achieved by a heel strap for a swimming flipper of the open-shoe type, which includes a tubular resilient element with a round cross section connected removably at each end to a device supporting a rigid eyelet, which can be removably attached to a corresponding pivot pin projecting laterally from the flipper.

In one embodieng, the tubular resilient element with a round cross section is an elastic element used in underwater crossbow guns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of swimming flipper with a heel strap according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the flipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a heel strap according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view from above of the heel strap of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates the cross-section of a strap according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the ratio strength-extension of a strap according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the ration strength-extension of a strap in the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system, structure, or manner.

With reference first to FIG. 1, number 1 indicates a flipper having a blade 2 in its front part and an open shoe 3 made from rubber or similar elastomeric material in its rear part. The diver, wearing suitable footwear 4 with a sole, inserts his foot into open shoe 3, and the foot is kept in correct position in flipper 1 by a heel strap 5 according to the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there are provided, at the sides of shoe 3, two projecting pivot pins 6 in diametrically opposite positions. Each pivot pin has a head 7 of larger diameter in its upper part. Pivot pins 6 can be made, for example, in one piece with the shoe 3. One end of the heel strap 5 is engaged in one of pivot pins 6 by means of metal attachment eyelet 9.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, heel strap 5 comprises a tubular resilient band 10 having a round cross section and suitable thickness. As shown in FIG. 5, heel strap 5 is hollow inside and the diameter d, of the inner lumen is equal or less that the thickness t of the outer wall of heels strap 5, such that:

d_(i)≦t

In different, non-limiting embodiments of the invention, inner diameter d, of tubular resilient band 10 is 3 mm and outer diameter d_(o) is 12, 14, 16 or 18 mm, such that, in those embodiments, t is 4.5, 5.5, 6.5 or 7.5 mm respectively.

Tubular resilient band 10 may be made of different materials, such as rubber or latex. In one embodiment, tubular resilient band 10 is made from a length of an elastic tubular band used in crossbow underwater guns.

FIG. 6 illustrates the tested performance of a heel strap according to the invention. It can be seen that an elongation of 100 mm is achieved with the application of a force of about 0.15 kN and that an elongation of 500 mm is achieved with the application of a force of about 0.53 kN.

FIG. 7 illustrates instead the tested performance of a heel strap according to the prior art. It can be seen that an elongation of 100 mm is achieved with the application of a force of about 0.035 kN, and an elongation of 500 mm is achieved with the application of a force of about 0.0.092 kN.

With reference again to FIGS. 1-4, each end of tubular resilient band 10 is fixedly coupled to a plastic bush 12, which has a threaded part onto which a plastic cap 11 is screwed for supporting metal attachment eyelet 9. The end of cap 11 is fixed to a metal pivot pin 13 provided with a head 14, in which a through hole is defined, in a direction orthogonal to pivot pin 13.

A second pivot pin 15 in inserted into the through hole and has ends are fixed to two parallel side pieces 16, which support metal eyelet 9. Pivot pin 15 can rotate with respect to the head 14, and therefore each of metal eyelets 9 can be rotated with respect to cap 11 to which it is attached and with respect to tubular resilient element 10.

Each of the metal eyelets 9 also comprises a first appropriately shaped hole 17 for fitting onto head 7 of a corresponding pivot pin 6, and a second appropriately shaped hole 8 adapted to be positioned under head 7 of the corresponding pivot pin when the strap has been attached.

Strap 5 further comprises a rubber element 18, which includes, on one side, a flat part 19 for supporting the diver's heel and, on another side, a grip ring 20. A through hole 21, into which tubular resilient element 10 of the strap 5 is inserted, is formed in the central part of rubber element 18.

A strap according to the invention is highly customizable, since it can be made simply by providing a tubular resilient element 10 with a round cross section, such as an elastic element for crossbow underwater guns, cutting tubular resilient element 10 to size according to the characteristics of the user's foot or the user's footwear, and inserting tubular resilient element 10 into through hole 21 of rubber element 18 provided with heel support part 19. Bushes 12 with the threaded parts on their outer ends are then attached to the ends of resilient element 10 and cap 11, provided with the metal eyelet 9 which is rotatable in relation to it, is screwed onto each bush.

The strap is attached in a simple and effective way to pivot pins 6 provided at the sides of flipper 1, by fitting first hole 17 of greater diameter of metal eyelet 9 onto head 7 of each pivot pin, and then positioning metal eyelet 9 such that second hole 8 of smaller diameter can be placed, on completing the attachment, around pivot pin 6 and, therefore, under head 7.

In order to insert his foot into flipper 1, the diver simply has to grip ring 20 and pull strap 5, which becomes elastically elongated. When the foot has been inserted, the diver releases ring 20 so that part 19 comes into contact with the heel, thus providing a suitable pressure on the heel. In order to remove the foot from flipper 1, the diver has to simply grip ring 20 again and to pull strap 5 again, causing strap 5 to become elastically elongated and enabling a removal of the foot.

While the invention has been described in connection with the above described embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention. Further, the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A heel strap for swimming flippers of open shoe type, comprising: a tubular elastic band having a circular cross-section and an inner lumen defined by an outer wall; and a rigid eyelet connected at each end of the tubular elastic band, the eyelets having an opening constructed such that each eyelet removably attaches onto a pin fixed one to each side of the flipper, wherein the inner lumen of the tubular elastic band has a diameter that is equal or less than a thickness of the outer wall.
 2. The heel strap according to claim 1, wherein the eyelets are rotatably connected to the ends of the tubular elastic band such that each eyelet is allowed to rotate at least partially relative to the end of the tubular elastic cord to which it is connected.
 3. The heel strap according to claim 1, wherein the eyelet has a first hole of greater diameter and second hole of smaller diameter.
 4. The heels strap according to claim 1, further comprising a member mounted on the tubular elastic band midway along a length thereof at a location corresponding to a back of a user's foot, the tubular elastic band passing through an opening in the member defined in a tubular extension extending alongside an outer wall of the member, the member having, an inner wall positioned to face and support a heel of the user, and a gripping element extending outwardly from the tubular extension, for the user to grip the tubular elastic band and pull the band away from the user's foot.
 5. The heel strap according to claim 4, wherein the gripping element is an annular gripping element.
 6. The heel strap according to claim 4, wherein the tubular extension has a plurality of parallel slots such to facilitate curving of the tubular extension.
 7. A heel strap for swimming flippers of open shoe type, comprising: a tubular elastic band having a circular cross-section and an inner lumen defined by an outer wall; a rigid eyelet connected at each end of the tubular elastic band, the eyelets having an opening constructed such that each eyelet removably attaches onto a pin fixed one to each side of the flipper; and an externally threaded bush connecting to each end of the tubular elastic band, each eyelet having a cap which is internally threaded and is threadly engaged to the external threads of the bush.
 8. The heel strap according to claim 7, wherein the cap includes a first pin extending outwardly therefrom away from the end of the tubular elastic band, and a cross pin pivotally connected to the first pin and rotatable relative there to, the eyelet being connected to the cross pin and pivotal relative thereto.
 9. The heel strap according to claim 7, wherein the eyelets are rotatably connected to the ends of the tubular elastic cord such that each eyelet is allowed to rotate at least partially relative to the end of the tubular elastic band to which it is connected.
 10. The heel strap according to claim 7, wherein the eyelet has a first hole of greater diameter and second hole of smaller diameter.
 11. The heels strap according to claim 7, further comprising a member mounted on the tubular elastic band midway along a length thereof at a location corresponding to a back of a user's foot, the tubular elastic band passing through an opening in the member defined in a tubular extension extending alongside an outer wall of the member, the member having, an inner wall positioned to face and support a heel of the user, and a gripping element extending outwardly from the tubular extension, for the user to grip the tubular elastic band and pull the band away from the user's foot.
 12. The heel strap according to claim 11, wherein the gripping element is an annular gripping element.
 13. The heel strap according to claim 11, wherein the tubular extension has a plurality of parallel slots such to facilitate curving of the tubular extension. 